The Honorable William A. Marsh, III, a native of Durham, NC and a Hillside High alumnus is a 1979 graduate of Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), Hampton, Virginia and a 1982 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. He was appointed to the District Court by the Honorable Michael F. Easley in January 2007. Judge Marsh is a member of the District of Columbia Bar as well as the North Carolina Bar and a past president of the 14th Judicial District Bar and Durham County Bar Association. His memberships also include the NC Association of Black Lawyers, the George H. White Bar and the American Bar Association.

Judge Marsh served as Assistant Legal Counsel to the Honorable James B. Hunt from 1983 - 85. After a short period in private practice in North Carolina as well as the District of Columbia, he served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel (Asst. Attorney General) for the District of Columbia as a prosecutor in the Criminal Division from 1987 - 1992. After returning to North Carolina in 1993, he practiced with his father in the firm of Marsh & Marsh until his appointment by Governor Easley.